Parallel Verses

A Conservative Version

Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is considered wise. When he shuts his lips, he is prudent.

New American Standard Bible

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

King James Version

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Holman Bible

Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent,
discerning when he seals his lips.


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International Standard Version

Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent; he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.

American Standard Version

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.

Amplified


Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.

Bible in Basic English

Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.

Darby Translation

Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, and he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.

Julia Smith Translation

Also the foolish one being silent shall be thought wise: and he shutting his lips, understanding.

King James 2000

Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Lexham Expanded Bible

Even a fool who keeps silent {shall be considered wise}; he who closes his lips [is] intelligent.

Modern King James verseion

Even a fool, when he is silent, is counted wise, and he who shuts his lips is counted as a man of understanding.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Yea, a very fool, when he holdeth his tongue, is counted wise; and to have understanding, when he shutteth his lips.

NET Bible

Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.

New Heart English Bible

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

The Emphasized Bible

Even a fool, holding his peace, is accounted, wise, - He that closeth his lips, is thought to have understanding.

Webster

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

World English Bible

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

Youngs Literal Translation

Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
אויל 
'eviyl 
Usage: 26

חרשׁ 
Charash 
Usage: 74

חכם 
Chakam 
Usage: 137

and he that shutteth
אטם 
'atam 
Usage: 8

שׂפת שׂפה 
Saphah 
Usage: 176

Context Readings

How Fools Live

27 He who spares his words has knowledge, and he who is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding. 28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is considered wise. When he shuts his lips, he is prudent.



Cross References

Job 13:5

O that ye would altogether be silent! And it would be your wisdom.

Proverbs 15:2

The tongue of the wise utters knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours out folly.

Ecclesiastes 5:3

For a dream comes with a multitude of business, and a fool's voice with a multitude of words.

Ecclesiastes 10:3

Yea also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone [that] he is a fool.

Ecclesiastes 10:14

A fool also multiplies words; [yet] man knows not what shall be, and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain